Michigan's Charles Matthews drives against Michigan State's Miles Bridges during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Michigan State forward Miles Bridges is defended by Michigan guard Charles Matthews during the second half Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Michigan State forward Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates after a basket against Michigan in the second half Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Michigan State Spartans student section reads the newspaper prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 in East Lansing. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports

After a stellar defensive performance for 30 minutes, Michigan found itself up five after a Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman three-point play with 9:49 to play. Through that point, Michigan had forced MSU into 14 turnovers and collected 23 points off them.

MSU threatened runs at two different points, but both were answered by Wagner 3-pointers to give the Wolverines momentum back.

Every time the Spartans swung, Michigan answered. Wagner's pair of free throws with 5:32 left made it a six-point game, before Zavier Simpson's driving layup capped an 11-2 run and gave the Wolverines their largest lead, 65-57, with 4:59 left.

Michigan continued to keep MSU at bay from there, getting another driving bucket from Wagner before Matthews drove and flushed a two-handed jam with 2:29 to go, making it 71-63.

The Spartans stayed close by intentionally sending Simpson to the line. It worked briefly, as he missed four straight to help the Spartans draw back within six. But he followed up with two makes.

The Wolverines went 28-for-35 from the foul line and effectively kept the Spartans off the offensive glass. In a category usually dominated by MSU in this series, Michigan finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds to MSU's seven.

Michigan could not stay out of foul trouble through the first 20 minutes, as centers Wagner, Jon Teske and Austin Davis all each picked up two fouls. The Wolverines were whistled for 12 fouls during the first half, as MSU pounded the ball inside for 20 points in the paint.

The Wolverines feasted on MSU's turnovers in the first half, scoring 17 points off the Spartans' eight miscues.

Wagner's day

The 6-foot-11 junior had 14 points after the break, continually taking MSU's centers off the dribble and hitting from long range.

He had two huge momentum-busting t3s in the second half and finished 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

MSU threw both Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman at Wagner, but neither were able to slow him down as his 27 points came in just 27 minutes of play.

Free throws

Michigan hit its first 19 foul shots before Simpson's struggles began late in the second half.

The Wolverines entered this game shooting worse than 65 percent from the line as a team but finished 28 of 35 from the stripe on Saturday.

Both teams combined to commit 51 fouls. MSU was whistled for 26, Michigan for 25.

Finishing

Michigan was outscored 20-12 in the paint during the first half, but scrapped back throughout the second to cut that margin to 34-32.

The points in the paint were the difference for MSU in the first half, but Michigan's ability to get into the paint with its guards (and Wagner) and finish at the rim turned the game around.

MSU had no answer for Michigan defensively in this one, regardless of the lineup it attempted to play.